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Tales From Sha-Hair-Azad
By Najya Yasirah
She’s A lady - Chapter 28
“Hello, everyone!” she said cheerfully. She was holding Antoine by the arm. They sat down as if nothing was wrong. “You sounded great,” said Deuce Bigalow, trying to change the mood. “Thank you, Deuce,” she said. The band began playing the tango. “Arianna, now’s a good time to start passing out cards,” she hinted. “You are so right, c’mon Sal, “ she said as they scurried to the dance floor. Sure enough, she was bombarded. “Let’s dance Kate,” said Deuce. Kate nodded to Reyjah.
“I had better go see if Mr. Giovanni is all right,” said Nancy Holden. She gave Antoine a long look before she left the table. Reyjah turned to him. “You screwed her last night, didn’t you?” “Who?” “Darlene-just after I screwed your brains out, for free,” she guzzled her champagne down.
He opened his mouth to speak. “Nah, I’m talking, now,” she said, her accent coming out. “Hairdressers do more than just hair, we are therapists, divorce counselors, family advisors, shopping consultants, accountants, and sometimes friends. Once, our hands are in your head, you become our responsibility. You are my responsibility, Ant. Believe it, or not. But you could have been more responsible with me, but thank you for using condoms…” Reyjah got up and left the table. “Reyjah!” said Antoine. Reyjah began walking very fast, so as not to be obvious. She had made it out to the parking lot. “Damn!” she said. She had forgotten that she didn’t drive. She took off her shoes and began walking. “Reyjah!” cried Antoine as he ran through the parking lot. She stopped. She had to. Her feet were hurting and her dress was revealing. Tears were falling from her blue eyes. “Reyjah, I tried to tell you the first day that we met, but you just wouldn’t believe me.” He grabbed her from behind. “I-I know, but why would I want to believe that about you, Antoine? You were ….so beautiful and so sweet, and….you don’t want to believe the worst about someone that you want to fall in love with,” she said through tears. He turned her around. “It’s just the principle,” she said softly. “And then I give you my virginity and you still keep on…that’s dangerous, Antoine. Really. I thought you loved me?” He exhaled. “Let’s go to my house, it’s getting cold,” he said.
She walked around in the living room of his mansion. Geez, this place is so huge, she thought. He returned from the kitchen with two flutes of grape juice. “Thanks,” she said flatly as she walked over to the fish tank. She sipped her juice. Confess, dammit, she thought. When he approached her, he kissed her tear-streamed cheek. She saw his piano in the midst. She took his hand and in her beautiful, satin gown raced over to it. They sat close together on the piano bench. She began playing a song. “Reyjah,” he grabbed her hand. He said with hot tears stinging his eyes. She looked at him with silent, blue eyes. “I’m not a model, I’m a gigolo. A manwhore, a he-whore, a paid dick.” He exhaled deeply. “Okay,” she said nonchalantly . “Do you have any diseases?” “No, I use protection with every woman and I get checkups every two weeks!” “Damn!” she said. “So what happens, now, Ant?” she asked. “I’m done crying.” He sighed. “Bellissimma.” She could not live with Antoine in her life, and not just as her ‘good friend’, either. She began playing the song again. “Where do we go from here? This isn’t where we intended to be? We had it all, you believed in me, I believed in you, Certainties disappear what do we do for our dream to survive? How do we keep all our passions alive? As we used to do? Deep in my heart I ‘m concealing things that I’m longing to say, scared to confess what I’m feeling, frightened you’ll slip away- you must love me….” She looked into Antoine’s eyes as she sang Madonna’s song. He touched her face. “You love me?” he asked. “Even though I kept this from you?” “You didn’t keep it from me, you tried to tell me when we first met, but I didn’t want to believe you-so it’s not like you lied.” She held his face. “You’re such a geek,” she joked. “Besides, I have something to tell you.” His eyes narrowed. “What?” he asked, his voice becoming suspicious. “Do you remember that gymnastics accident that I told you about?” “Yes.” “Well, I sued the committee and I was awarded 12.2 million dollars in the settlement.” His eyes grew wide. “But you do not live like a wealthy person and you are always working.” She giggled. “Don’t you see, my wealth comes from helping people, making them smile and laugh…you know, making them feel good. What good is having money, when you have nothing in your heart to show for it?” “Why didn’t you tell me before?” he asked caressing her makeup smeared cheek. “Think about it, would we really be the close friends that we are, now? Would you have treated me like a client, instead?” she hinted. “Good point,” he said. “I love our friendship, it’s like nothing I’ve ever had before.” “Do you remember what I said the night we first had sex?” she asked. ”Made love, Bellissimma,” he corrected. “Okay, when I said that I hoped that we could remain friends regardless if anything bad happened?” “Yes, I do,” he said taking her hand from the piano keys. They were so soft. “Friends can be lovers,” she said as she pushed a fallen hair from his face. “And lovers can be friends,” he finished. “But I want more than that,” he said firmly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a box. He opened it. “Bellissimma, will you be my future?” The ring had a thick band and was inset with marquis –cut diamonds and sapphires. “Not only is this an engagement ring- it’s a promise ring. I’ll promise to stop, if you promise to start.” “Huh?” “I stop giving away my dick, if you start giving me your heart.” “That’s cute, Ant.” He slid the ring on her finger. “It’s beautiful,” she said. “Ms. Holden had it picked out just for you,” he said. “And Darlene gave me the money…” Reyjah laughed. He blushed.
Tales From Sha-Hair-Azad - Chapter 29